Is A Virus Making You Fat?
Can a common virus similar to ones that cause colds and pinkeye be responsible for making you fat?
Some scientists believe that infection with human adenovirus-36 may be a contributing factor.
Researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center originally demonstrated that the virus could cause animals to become fatter.
Then The Scientists Turned To Humans
They found that when human stem cells were exposed to this virus, the stem cells turned into fat cells and stored fat, too.
They also identified a gene in the virus that seems to cause this obesity effect. Which could lead to the development of a medication or vaccine to battle viral obesity.
An earlier study showed that 30% of obese people had been infected with adenovirus-36 at some point. Only 11% of thin people had.
This new study shows that the virus can actually cause fat to accumulate in human cells.
The Researchers Couldn’t Ethically Infect Humans With This Virus
So they took adult stem cells from the fatty tissue of liposuction patients. Half of these stem cells were exposed to the virus.
About a week later, most of the virus-infected stem cells turned into fat cells and accumulated fat. Most of the non-infected cells didn’t.
The scientists don’t know exactly how this virus may cause obesity. They also don’t know how long the virus stays in the human body or how long the obesity effect lasts.
In animal studies, the infected animals remained obese up to 6 months after their infection went away.
Here’s My Question: How Long Has This Virus Been Around?
Because if it’s longer than a couple of decades, it doesn’t make sense to blame the obesity epidemic on a virus.
Can it be a contributing factor?
Sure, why not. So is lack of sleep.
But why do other cultures suddenly become fat when they adopt lifestyles similar to ours? Do they suddenly become infected with this virus?
If it’s the same virus that caused animals to become fat, then why don’t people lose their obesity within 6 months of the virus going away just like the animals did?
The Numbers In This Study Don’t Explain An Epidemic
Only 30% of obese people had been infected with this virus. That means 70% of obese people, the majority, weren’t infected. But they’re still overweight.
Obviously, you should always go to your doctor to rule out medical problems as a cause for obesity. Maybe this virus will become one more.
But I think we’re all grasping for a reason to overlook the main cause of obesity - our lifestyles.
I don’t believe you have to torture yourself to lose weight. But you do have to take responsibility for the actions that caused you to gain weight and change them.
In most cases, the answer is simple: eat less.
It’s the solution few people want to face.
Technorati Tags: obesity, lose weight, weight loss, adenovirus-36, obesity epidemic
August 21st, 2007 at 7:00 am
To fight a cold virus you eat chicken soup, i guess to fight off this one you have to eat ho ho’s, spunge cakes, chocolate, potato chips, hamburgers and candy, and if it gets real bad you dont go to the hospital you go to a buffet.
i have to say that this is (in my opinion) nothing more than the whole ADHD crap, if parents took responsibility of thier kids and didnt look for a excuse as to why thier kids were acting, i mean i dont remember there being this ADHD epodemic back in the 1950’s. ADHD is a creation of lazy parenting, yes, there may be 1% of kid who truely have some kind of chemical problem that causes issues but the vast majority is poor parenting skills. and so is this,
let me break it down for you, you eat too much too often and sit on you butt, virus or no virus you will get fat. and i know alot of fat people who hang out with skinny people, how did the fat people catch this virus and the others not? is it not contaguse? do i need to stop hanging around fat people?
August 21st, 2007 at 12:52 pm
I don’t know if you intended to sound like this, but you sound like you don’t believe that the virus even exists, which is a rather foolish things to believe because science has obviously proven it’s existance.
Also:
“The scientists don’t know exactly how this virus may cause obesity. They also don’t know how long the virus stays in the human body or how long the obesity effect lasts.”
Therefor, humans cells could retain the virus for a longer time than animals do, and the effects could last longer. If a virus caused you to gain 80 pounds, I highly doubt that you could SAFELY lose that weight in six months. And the eleven percent of the “thin” people who have this virus might be living the lifestyle of the “other cultures,” yes, Americans need a great deal of help with eating choices, and I agree that this virus shouldn’t be considered an end-all cure for fat, but there is some validity to this. Instead of looking at it with the idea that it is supposed to be a cause for every single extra pound that humans carry, as you are, instead look at it like this: Person A and Person B go out to eat every night and order the same thing. After a month, Person A gains 5 pounds, and Person B only gains 1… because Person B had the virus. It should be seen as a contributing factor.
August 21st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
This must be the same virus that used to make me drive to McDonalds and Supersize everything.
August 21st, 2007 at 2:30 pm
A virus? Yeah, that must be it.
August 21st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
If people with lots of money are funding these studies, they must think there’s something to it. How do any of us know that there isn’t an illness that’s causing so much obesity? I think the scientists should keep looking for the explanation.
August 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Cassy,
I don’t dispute that the virus exists. What it does and if it’s causing or even contributing to an obesity epidemic is the part of the argument that has me less than convinced.
I simply believe (and it’s just a personal opinion) that many of us are looking for reasons other than our actions to explain the obesity epidemic.
In the example you gave where 1 person gains 5 pounds and the other person gains 1 pound, a lot of us have dealt with that for years. I have some people in my family who can eat the entire contents from a buffet table and not gain an ounce. I would balloon to the size of a house if I ate like they did.
We used to blame that on metabolism or body build or whatever. Could it be a virus? I suppose.
But what it means in my family is that I have to be careful of what and how much I eat and my eternally skinny family members don’t. If I’m not careful, I could very easily become obese.
Also, 5 pounds doesn’t make someone obese. That takes time and again, in my opinion, lifestyle. It takes a long time to lose weight. But if most people are honest, it usually takes a while to gain a lot of weight, too.
Even if this virus is a contributing factor, it’s only contributing to 30% of obese people at most. So to me, that’s not an explanation for the obesity epidemic. Especially if 11% of thin people have it.
That’s a difference of 19 percentage points between the 2 groups. From a mathematical standpoint, it doesn’t make sense to me that this virus is causing an epidemic.
That’s why I said it may become one more medical cause to rule out like thyroid or other glandular problems.
But it concerns me that some people who need to make lifestyle changes will grab onto these studies of viruses and gut bacteria as an excuse not to make the changes they need to make to lose weight.
Also, as to the comment about how long the virus lasts. I used the 6-month mark because that’s what they were using with the animals. But my point was that I’ve never seen an obese person just magically lose weight (as should happen if obesity goes away when the virus does, even if it’s years later). Everyone I know had to make a decision and take action to lose the weight; it didn’t just happen.
I understand you will probably make the argument that the virus may last a lifetime.
I’ve just seen too many people who need to address lifestyle and emotional issues to lose weight. When they do, they seem to lose weight, virus or no virus.
One final thought: I’ve read enough medical literature and studies to know that science makes one claim one day and another the next. Remember antioxidants, oat bran, cyclamates (that’s a really old one)? Even the studies regarding hormones and cancer - the scientific “answers” change day to day.
There are too many unknowns to call this a definitive study. I hope it holds the key for some people. But it just doesn’t explain an epidemic - in my opinion.
I appreciate that you feel differently. I respect your opinion, although I don’t share it. But I’m glad you took the time to voice your opinion.
Thanks for your comment,
Debbie
August 21st, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I don’t like feeling helpless to lose weight and that’s what blaming a virus makes me feel like. I hope it’s not a virus.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:15 pm
The question is do I have control over how much I gain or lose. I know the answer is yes. Even if I gain weight more easily than the next person, I still have the ability to control how much I gain or lose by adjusting my eating and exercise habits. The reason I know I have control is that I’ve done it before. When I gain lots of weight, I know what I’m doing even though I don’t stop myself. I don’t feel like dieting or exercising, but I do feel like overeating or sitting around watching TV all night. It’s my choice, even when it’s the wrong one. It’s also my choice when I decide to do the hard work of losing weight. It would be easier to blame a virus just like it’s easier to overeat. But I know I have control. I just have to use it.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:20 pm
People who are heavy believe this is true. People who are skinny don’t. I’m heavy. If it’s a virus, I’m not to blame. I like that better than dieting and exercise.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:30 pm
I don’t get it, if thin people have this virus, too, then why don’t they get fat??? There must be something else going on besides a virus, maybe something that works with the virus to make people fat??
August 21st, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Why don’t they do a study to see if people with the virus can lose weight the same way with diet and exercise as the obese people without the virus? That way we’ll know whether there’s anything we can do.
August 21st, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I’ve always believed there’s something going on besides everybody eating too much food for all of us to be obese at the same time. I believe this virus could be the reason it’s so hard to lose weight for many of us.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Another “disease”? C’mon, people, we’re eating too much. Quit trying to pop a pill for everything.
August 21st, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I don’t want to sound unkind but our society always tries to blame everyone but ourselves for what we do. I don’t think a vaccine is going to solve this problem.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:35 pm
My butt musta caught the virus when I hit middle age.
August 21st, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I’m usually a lurker, but this one is just asking for comments. Why is it so hard to believe that a virus might be the cause of obesity? What’s any of this got to do with ADD? At least these scientists are trying to find an answer. What are the rest of you doing?
August 21st, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Someone asked if this virus is contagious. Does anyone know the answer? Debbie?
August 21st, 2007 at 9:51 pm
Bernita,
I didn’t see anything about the virus being contagious.
I also want to address the issue of blame (which I’m seeing in some of the comments). I don’t think anyone should feel they’re to blame if they’re overweight. It happens - whether it’s a virus or your own actions.
I just don’t want anyone to delay starting a weight loss program while they wait for a vaccine or a medication to solve their weight problem. I always tell everyone to see a doctor before you start a new diet or exercise program. That way, you can rule out known medical problems and also undertake a weight loss program that’s safe for you.
But I do believe the only way to successfully lose weight is to take control of the situation and that means realizing that you have the power to change your lifestyle to lose weight. That’s assuming you don’t have a medical condition that’s causing your weight problem.
August 21st, 2007 at 10:35 pm
I get this virus every Thanksgiving. The Christmas holidays are bad for me, too. Count me among the skeptics.
August 21st, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Are there viruses out there that do harm the body, of course, however, I would say that it’s more of a DNA issue. all of my family is heavy, but I workout eat right and do what I can to control it, if I were to say “oh, I must have the virus” it would give me an out and make me less likely to try to control myself, how do you get viruses unless they are passed on by a vector of some kind? I would put it to you this way, I knew allot of girls over the years who were thin and good looking and they would hang out with fatter girls (to make themselves look better in my opinion). And yet all that close contact with people who could have had this virus did not make them large. I would say that it was more of a less likely to order a pizza instead of a salad,
this virus as real as it may be is more dangerous to the brain than the body because it will allow people to think “hey, what can I do about it anyway?” and that my friends is what will happen, once they give up the idea that weight is something that they can control,,,, that’s right,,,, they will sit around and wait for a pill to do the work for them, I mean look at the diet pill market as it is now,
I need to make a fat virus placebo pill, $300 a bottle, at that price they are sure to work
August 22nd, 2007 at 7:01 am
What an interesting discussion!
I think obesity is a really complex issue with lots of contributing causes. I do think that on the whole, we are eating way too much junk. But I also notice that some people work really hard at losing weight, eating far less than average and doing more exercise, yet have a really tough time losing.
Those of us who get results when we change our behavior are in the majority, I think. But it wouldn’t shock me to discover there were other factors, whether viral or metabolic, that came into play that make it really hard for some people even when they are making the right lifestyle changes.
What always surprises me is how quickly discussions divide into opposing camps! It just shows how charged the issue.
This is a great blog, by the way, lots of information here!
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I think people need to look at the big picture. Don’t focus on reasons and ways to fail, but rather on reasons and ways to succeed. Everyone has challenges.
Rather than making the person, these tend to reveal one to ones self.
August 22nd, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I’ve always had a hard time losing weight even when I diet and exercise the right way. This virus thing makes sense to me.